On October 13, 2022, the Catholic Church, the facilitator of the first phase of the Roundtable, postponed the next scheduled transition meeting, due to time constraints in connection with the invitation to the United Nations, the University of Panama and the Panamanian Episcopal Conference, which are expected to be the mediators of the second phase of the Roundtable.
The meeting scheduled for October 28, 2022 was postponed by the Catholic Church until the mediator is appointed, a decision that was accepted by the Government, in order to achieve the inclusion of all sectors.
Recent Government Actions
In June 2020, President Cortizo sanctioned Law 134 of June 20, 2022, which has the objective of encouraging investment and financing for the development of new public tourist lodging establishments or expansions of existing ones, including tourist products and their complementary services located in regions, destinations or areas of tourist interest, with the exception of those located in the district of Panama. Through this new regulation, which repeals Law 122 of 2019 and amends Law 80 of 2012, the incentive is reduced from 100% to 60% tax credit of the total value of the project, plus 5% of the value of the infrastructure of the master plan. It is estimated that, with the development of projects in the interior of the country, 3,000 jobs could be generated in the construction sector in the next two years and then more than 2,000 permanent jobs in the operational stage of the hotels, which will improve the quality of life in various rural areas of the country
On September 29, 2022, the Minister of Commerce and Industry of Panama, Federico Alfaro Boyd, stated that there is currently a process before the World Trade Organization (WTO), initiated by Costa Rica, who chose arbitration, ending the bilateral dialogue. He added that both Panama and Costa Rica are member countries of the WTO and have recognized their competence and suitability to resolve the dispute and until that panel issues a decision and authorizes an action of this type, any retaliation measure is contrary to international law. On September 30, 2022, the Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica Manuel Tovar announced that he will suspend tariff benefits to Panama, in a new chapter of the commercial dispute between both countries.
On October 17, 2022, Panama and the United States concluded the High-Level Dialogue on Security Matters (DSAN), where the progress made in maritime security, citizen security, border security, and cybersecurity were discussed.
On October 3, 2022, Tocumen International Airport (“Tocumen”) filed a lawsuit against CNO, S.A. (previously known as Constructora Norberto Odebrecht, S.A., or “Odebrecht”) claiming damages of at least U.S.$20 million, for alleged losses caused by Terminal 2 not being delivered as agreed to in the contractual terms and conditions. Tocumen sustains a part of its claim based on costs incurred and costs to be incurred, which include, among others, fines for arrears, supervision costs, security costs and personnel expenses. On June 22, 2022, the new Terminal 2 of Tocumen International Airport began operations.
On October 4, 2022, the European Union announced that it will keep Panama on its list of tax havens, after verifying that Panama had not yet completed all the reforms to which it had committed. Czech Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, stated that he believed that all countries on the list will deliver on their commitments and carry out the necessary reforms in the field of taxation as soon as possible, so that they can be removed from this list when it is reviewed in six months’ time.
On October 4, 2022, the risk rating agency Fitch Ratings reaffirmed Panama’s sovereign rating at BBB- with a stable outlook, maintaining the country’s investment grade.
On October 7, 2022, the Cabinet Council approved extending from October 1 to October 31, 2022 the electricity rate subsidy, temporarily adopted by the State, as Extraordinary Contributions to the Rate Stabilization Fund (FET), due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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